This blog is for parents interested in education and the 11 Plus Exam for children in the UK. We provide comment, tips and advice for parents with children studying for the 11 Plus Exam.

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Friday, February 24, 2012

An Eleven Plus Vision

You have a vision. You enter the dream world. You can see
your bright and able eleven plus child walking through the gates of the local
grammar school. You can sense the excitement of your child – even though it is
heavily disguised in the most laid back form. Few brand new Year Seven children
will deign to kiss their parents good bye at the gates of a new school!

We may possibly, however, have a big problem looming in the eleven
plus world. The more advanced and more involved parents are, the less likely
are they to be able to feel that a prophecy or a vision should be taken
seriously. It is possible, however, that a little extra eleven plus hesitation
may stem from Jeanne of Arc’s story. She had wonderful visions – and they
helped to put a King on the throne. Charles VII ascended the throne as a direct
result of her intervention. This did not do her much good as the Burgundians
sold her to the English – who burnt her as a heretic and sorceress in 1431.
Perhaps eleven plus parents should not dream of fire and passion – because we
just don’t know where it will all end!

Of course some parents may dream about their child passing
the eleven plus, going to university and landing a good job and going on to make
money. The making the money part of the dream may be characterised by a
roulette wheel. If your child owned the roulette wheel in Monaco then all is
well. If, however, your child was playing roulette then you may need to take
drastic steps.

You need to explain to your child that every gamble on a
roulette wheel is designed to help you to lose money. Some spins you will win
but most you will lose. The important factor to keep in mind is how much money
you are prepared to lose. When you bet on a single number the odds are one to thirty
eight. You explain this to your child in exactly the same way as you would
explain any eleven plus question.

If you bet £10 then your chances are (One divided by thirty
eight) + (Thirty seven divided by thirty eight multiplied by minus £10). Your
child’s quick eleven plus brain will work out that you will lose fifty two
point six pence for every £10.

Now many of us would argue that losing fifty two point six
pence is worth losing if the odds allow us to win £350. But will your child see
it that way? After all you, and your family, should be saving for university
fees not wasting the family heritage.

You just don’t want to be burnt at the stake for the sake of
the loss of 52.6p!